One Month Already

Today, Gretchen is officially one month old. This month has been full of hurdles, trials and tribulations for our family. And lots of chaos! Although we are having some fun, too. Sleep-deprived fun. Ha ha.

Gretchen herself is a very sweet baby. After nursing, she is often alert and inquisitive. Her head turns to track sounds, especially Rosemary's voice. When it's time to sleep, we gently rock her and she usually drifts off without a fuss.



Alina and Gretchen have experienced a difficult start to nursing. Gretchen's latch is tight and inefficient so Alina pumps after every feeding and supplements the feedings with the pumped breastmilk using a Supplemental Nursing System feeding tube. This system delivers the breastmilk at the breast, preserving the nursing relationship. Alina's hard work is paying off because Gretchen is beginning to nurse just a little bit better on her own. It's hard to be patient as we wait for her to grow and improve but we are getting closer every day to a typical, easy nursing relationship!

Yesterday, Elliott and Rosemary helped Steve give Gretchen her first bath! Unfortunately Gretchen cried (screamed!) the entire time which put the kids a little bit on edge. Rosemary tried to strip her own clothes off in order to take a bath WITH Gretchen.